U.S. Commerce Department’s CommerceConnect Expands Into Boston

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEThursday, March 24, 2011CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS202-482-4883

CommerceConnect business assistance initiative in Boston is
one of 16 to launch this year

Following the launch of its
Michigan office last September, the U.S. Commerce Department’s CommerceConnect
is expanding into Boston – one of 16 regions where the service is being
launched this year.

Announced in 2009,
CommerceConnect is a one-stop-shop initiative in which Commerce Department
employees are cross-trained so that they have the ability to connect firms to
the full menu of Commerce programs and can link business owners with other
federal, state, local and nonprofit resources. The effort is designed to cut
through red tape and simplify access to services and resources that can help
companies grow, create jobs and become more efficient.

Newly cross-trained Commerce
staff working in existing local department offices are beginning to assist
Boston area businesses – no matter where they are in their life cycle, whether
just getting off the ground or looking to expand into overseas markets – in
collaboration with state and local partners.

“We are excited to expand
CommerceConnect to cities across the country so we can help even more U.S.
businesses grow and create jobs in their communities,” CommerceConnect
Executive Director Dennis Alvord said. “We look forward to working with
companies in the Boston area and leveraging our extensive resources to assist
them in reaching their business objectives.”

Trained CommerceConnect
specialists can assess clients’ business needs – whether it's access to
capital, intellectual property protection, export promotion or guidance on how
to make operations more efficient – and refer them to appropriate resources.

“This resource will help Boston’s businesses expand and
create jobs, support innovation and stay competitive,” said U.S. Senator John
Kerry.

Last September, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke
announced the opening of a permanent CommerceConnect office in Pontiac, Mich.,
after the successful pilot program served more than 90 companies and provided
more than 300 referrals to 9 different Commerce bureaus and 13 other Federal,
state, local and non-profit partners throughout the region.

Since the launch of the pilot program, the
CommerceConnect network has expanded to include not only a Michigan field
office but also a growing contingent of cross-trained specialists in U.S.
Department of Commerce field offices across the
country, as well as a national call center and web portal. In recent weeks, the
Commerce Department has announced the expansion of CommerceConnect services
into Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver and
Seattle.

Boston area businesses
interested in working with CommerceConnect specialists can contact the
CommerceConnect Call Center at 1-888-728-4190 or visit www.CommerceConnect.gov.